The Coast Guard medevaced a 75-year-old woman from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship 110 miles off the Cape Hatteras coast Saturday morning.
Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Corinne Zilnicki says the Coast Guard’s 5th District was notified the woman had gone into diabetic shock on board Anthem of the Seas just before 10 a.m.
A Coast Guard helicopter and a HC-130 airplane from Air Station Elizabeth City responded to assist the woman.
The helicopter lowered a rescue basket down to the cruise ship and then hoisted the woman from the deck. She was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for treatment and arrived at 1:50 p.m. She is expected to be ok.
“Cases like this highlight the importance of cooperation between the Coast Guard, cruise ship personnel and local hospital staff,” said Coast Guard Lt. Courtney Wolf, command duty officer for the case.
“Today’s hoist went seamlessly due to the coordination between all involved parties, and as a result we were able to transport this individual quickly and safely.”